More than 75,000 High-School Students Worldwide Eager for Unveiling
of 2016 Robotics Challenge: FIRST STRONGHOLDSM

Over 3,100 Teams Participate through Comcast NBCUniversal Broadcast

Media Invited to Attend Local Kickoffs in 114 Venues Worldwide

(BUSINESS WIRE) — January 4, 2016 —
FIRST ®

Who:FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and
Technology) will be joined by numerous public figures to launch the 2016
season of the
FIRST®Robotics Competition – FIRST STRONGHOLDSM –
with a worldwide Kickoff event originating from Manchester, N.H.

The 2016 season will include over 3,100 teams (75,000 high-school
students), grades 9-12, participating in 118 Regional and District
events.

At Kickoff, teams will be shown the FIRST STRONGHOLD game field
and challenge details for the first time, and will receive a Kit of
Parts made up of motors, batteries, control system components,
construction materials, and a mix of additional automation components
– with limited instructions.

Teams will have six weeks to design and build a robot to meet this
year’s engineering challenge.

Dignitaries and public figures will deliver remarks on video and in
person, including:

Dean Kamen, President, DEKA Research & Development and Founder, FIRST;

What: Accomplished inventor
Dean
Kamen founded FIRST in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of
science and technology in young people. The FIRST Robotics
Competition is an annual competition that challenges high-school
students – working alongside professional Mentors – to construct a robot
and compete in the ultimate Sport for the Mind™ that measures the
effectiveness of each robot, the power of teamwork and collaboration,
and each team’s display of
Gracious
Professionalism®. Through their
participation, students experience the excitement of science,
engineering, technology, and innovation; build well-rounded life
capabilities such as self-confidence, communication, and leadership; and
qualify for over $25 million in college scholarships.

Where*: Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), 2500 North
River Road, Manchester, N.H. *OPEN TO ALL MEDIA: If you would
like to attend as media, please contact Haley Dunn at
hdunn@firstinspires.org
or Brooke Blew at
bblew@firstinspires.org.

114 Kickoffs in cities worldwide: U.S. and international FIRST
teams will tune in via Comcast NBCUniversal broadcast and webcast.
Access the webcast via
http://comca.st/frc2016

Photo Opp.:FIRST will unveil the details of the new 2016
robotics competition game after the speaker program. Students take
measurements on the new game field and inspect the challenge in order to
develop strategies for robot construction, and to determine if they will
play offense, defense, or both.